This facility received the Public Safety Centers Silver Award in the 2024 Officer Station Design Awards.
Official Project Name: Gladstone Police & City Hall Renovation + Expansion
Project City/State: Gladstone, MO
Date Completed: October 9, 2023
Chief/Director: Chief of Police Fred Farris; City Manager Bob Baer
Project Area (sq. ft.): 46,505
Total Cost: $13,567,854
Cost Per Square Foot: $292
Architect/Firm Name: Hoefer Welker
City/State: Kansas City, MO
Phone: (913) 307-3700
Website: hoeferwelker.com
Design Team: Ken Henton, Principal-in-Charge; Nick Lawler, Project Manager; Chris Krumrei, Project Designer; Katherine Waldrop, Project Architect; Shannon Zlab, Architectural Support; Nathan Dysko, Architectural Support; Kara Koenig, Interior Designer; Eric Rush, Construction Administration; Smith and Boucher, MEP Engineer; BHC, Civil Engineer; Landworks Studio, Landscape Architect; J&S Structural Engineer PA, Structural Engineer
Project Description
For decades, the Gladstone Police Department and City Hall were confined to an outdated space that no longer served the needs of the growing community and police force. The need for an upgrade was clear, as the old facilities couldn’t keep up with modern demands. Driven by the community’s vision, the project emerged from “Gladstone: Shaping Our Future,” a citizen-based strategic planning process that increased community support and secured funding through a half-cent sales tax.
This project stands out for integrating a 20,000-square-foot addition, accommodating the evolving police department while modernizing the existing City Hall. Initially designed in 1961, the facilities had been renovated and expanded seven times. The City’s desire to stay in the current downtown facilities, including maintaining public parking for multi-use events, underscores its commitment to accessibility, community engagement, and preserving the central hub of civic activity.
The original 1961 façade design included fins to reflect a nuclear blast from downtown Kansas City. After consideration, the City decided that the benefits of keeping the fins outweighed the cost of removing them, as they remain functional and honor the original design. The new police and city entrance design is welcoming and prominent while embracing the existing building. The renovation also includes a cutting-edge property evidence room and modern offices. The new regional 911 communications center is a key addition that enhances operational efficiency through the co-location of multiple agencies. This strategic consolidation of dispatch services aims to improve interagency coordination, streamline response efforts, and strengthen partnerships.
The new facility features flexible spaces, ensuring adaptability to future needs and allowing the headquarters to evolve. Chief Fred Farris highlighted that the new facility ‘instills pride in coming to work’ and includes equipment that enables officers to work more efficiently.